Escapement-releasing mechanism for coin-operated machines.



No. 644,390. Patented Feb. 27, |900.

J. L. WILSN.

y ESCAPEMENT'RELEASlNG MECHANISMFUR COIN OPERTED MACHINES.

(Application led May 11. 1899.)

(No Model.)

UNTTnn STATES Trient PATENT JOSEPH L. VILSON, OF LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR TO THE SYMPI'IONION MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

ESCAPEMENT-RELEASING MECHANISM `FOFl COIN-OPERATED MACHINES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N o. 644,390, dated February 27, 1900.

T0 @ZZ wir/0m, t may concern,.-

Beit known that I, JOSEPH L. WILsoN, residing at Los Angeles, in the county of Los Angeles and State of California, have invented new and useful Improvements in Escapement-Releasing Mechanisms for Coin-OperatedvMachines, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in machines-such as music-boxes, tc-which are driven by mechanism to be put into operation by means of a coin or other disk which is introduced through a slot into a pocket from which it is pushed lby a button to engage an escapement-releasing rod to operate the same to release the escapement, the push-button being chambered at the end, so that when the coin is not interposed the button will not operate the rod.

The object of my invention is to provide against any failure of operation, which sometimes occurs in the old machine by reason of the escape of the coin or other disk from the pocket before the rod has been actuated.

The accompanying drawings illustrate my invention.

Figure l is a perspective View of my invention,fragments only of the escapement-operating rod and driving-wheel being shown. Fig. 2 is a'sectional elevation of the same on line 2 2, Fig. 3. A coin is shown in the pocket. Fig. 3 is a sectional plan on line 3 3, Fig. 2. A coin is shown held between the rod and the ends of the springs ready to be dropped by withdrawal of the rod. Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail of the pocket, viewed from the inside of the machine. A disk is shown in the pocket. Dotted lines indicate the position of the springs when the coin is not in the pocket.

A indicates the escapement-releasing rod, which is held in its inoperative or non-releasing position by a spring a in the usual manner.

B indicates the coin-pocket, into which the coins are introduced through the chute b in the usual manner.

C indicates the ordinary push-button, provided with a socket or recess o in the end to receive the end of the rod A when the push- Application filed May 11, 1899.' Serial No. 716,468. (No model.)

button is operated without any disk in the pocket.

c indicates the spring for normallyholding the push-button outward. This is the ordinary construction.

D D D indicate the pocket-springs, being spring-tongues extending from the pocket toward the escapement-releasing rod and are bent toward each other in an S form and eX- tending outside the pocket, so that the space between the springs is normally less than the diameter of the coin or other disk by which the machine is to be operated. The pocketsprings are normally free inside the pocket, and the side springs DDnormallystand with a space between them less than the diameter of the coin by which the machine is to be operated, so that when the coin is dropped into the machine the side springs will catch the coin in a bend of the S, as indicated in Fig. 2, and will be spread apart by the coin, so that the springs will maintain a pressure upon the coin so long as it is in the pocket, and the springs, being by reason of the Sform bent toward each other outside the pocket, increase this pressure when the push-button is operated to force the coin against the escapement-releasing rod. The outer portions of the springs normally extend into the path of the coin to prevent the return of the coin to the pocket after it has been forced out of the pocket.

In practical operation the coin E will be dropped through the chute into the pocket and will spread the side springs D D" slightly apart. Then when the push-button is pushed inward the coin will be thereby forced toward the rod and will be held iirmly by the springs until the rod has beenpushed sofar that the escapement is released. By this time the coin has been carried beyond the ends of the springs, and when the push-button is released and is returned outward by the springs a, and c the coin strikes against the outturned ends d CZ' d, which prevent the coin from again entering between the springs D D' D". The

coin will then be held by pressure of spring a until the pin f on the driving mechanism F, engaging with the collar a ou the rod A, withdraws the rod from the coin, thus allowing it to drop. After the pin has passed the collar the rod returns to the position indicated in Fig. 2 and the machine is ready to be again operated.

Now, having described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The combination with the escapementreleasing rod, the disk-pocket, and the socketed push-button, of disk-holding springs extending from the pocket toward the rod and forming a guide to guide a push-button-operated disk into engagement with the rod; the outer portions of said springs normally extending into the path of the disk to prevent the return of the disk to the pocket after it has been forced out.

2. The combination with the chute and the pocket arranged below the chute, of springs arranged in the pocket extending along opposite sides thereof across the extended plane of the chute to receive between them a coin from the chute, the side springs normally standing with a space between them less than the diameter of the coin with which the machine is to be operated so that when the coin is dropped into the machine said side springs will be spread apart substantially as set forth.

3. The combination with the escapementreleasing rod, the disk-pocket and the socketed push-button; of disk-holding springtongues extending from the pocket toward the escapement-releasing rod and bent toward each other in an S form and extending outside the pocket, the space between the springs being normally less than the diameter of the coin or other disk by which the machine is to be operated and the springs being arranged with a bend of the S coinciding with the downward extension of the chute to receive the coin in said bend, and an inward bend of the S of each spring being outside the pocket. A

JOSEPH L. WILSON. Witnesses:

JAMES R. TOWNsEND, F. M. TOWNSEND. 

